Johnson & Johnson (J&J) has lost yet another jury trial over talcum powder claims involving a woman that developed ovarian cancer after using the product as directed. This marks the sixth loss for the company of such claims. The jury awarded a total of $110 million to the plaintiff, Lois Slemp, divided as $5.4 million for compensatory damages and another $105 million in punitive damages to punish J&J for its negligence. An additional $50,000 punitive damage liability was assigned to Imerys Talc America, the company that provides J&J with its talcum powder. This is the largest talc powder verdict result so far.
Slemp’s complaint was pushed to the front of a long queue of talc powder lawsuits since her health is currently in decline. The ovarian cancer she developed after using J&J talcum powder products for decades has spread to her liver.
Despite a spokeswoman from J&J giving a statement of sympathy to women across America with ovarian cancer, it was not a statement of liability. The company is expected to try to appeal this verdict, fighting to have it reversed or the award minimized. A spokeswoman for Imerys gave a more pointed response that claimed plaintiff verdicts in talcum powder cases actually hurt efforts to find a cure for ovarian cancer since, in her opinion, talc powder is not a contributing factor of the disease.
The legal counsel representing Slemp in this latest case once again leaned on the argument that J&J was willingly ignorant of the dangers talcum powder create when used on genitalia, as the product claims is safe. There was also a new argument brought to the courtroom: that the talc powder supplied to J&J was laced with trace amounts of asbestos. It is not clear if these claims can be substantiated.
Have you or a loved one developed ovarian cancer after using Johnson & Johnson talcum powder as a product for feminine hygiene care? You might have a talc powder claim of your own. Talk to Christian & Christian and our Greenville product liability attorneys today about your legal options. If you would like to get a free consultation to start, just dial 864.408.8890.
Attorney, Founder, PartnerUniversity of South Carolina School of Law, South Carolina Bar, U.S. Court of Appeals 4th Circuit, U.S. District Court, U.S. Federal Courts, United States Supreme Court
Attorney Matthew Christian dedicated his career to making corporations see his clients as people, rather than claim numbers. He strives to help the injured, including making long-term care facilities safer for residents.
Attorney Matthew is also very passionate about fighting for injury victims’ rights to compensation, going above and beyond to defend these rights. As a partner at Christian & Christian, Matt has helped pursue and obtain financial reparations for numerous accident victims from well-funded opponents, including major insurance companies.
Attorney Matthew Christian has experience handling a wide range of personal injury cases.
Areas of Expertise: Personal Injury, Nursing Home Abuse, Medical Malpractice, Auto Accidents, Premises Liability, Wrongful Death, Catastrophic Injuries
Johnson & Johnson (J&J) has lost yet another jury trial over talcum powder claims involving a woman that developed ovarian cancer after using the product as directed. This marks the sixth loss for the company of such claims. The jury awarded a total of $110 million to the plaintiff, Lois Slemp, divided as $5.4 million for compensatory damages and another $105 million in punitive damages to punish J&J for its negligence. An additional $50,000 punitive damage liability was assigned to Imerys Talc America, the company that provides J&J with its talcum powder. This is the largest talc powder verdict result so far.
